Dave Kennedy Fellow - Summer 2026
Applications are considered on a rolling basis. All applications are due by Friday, February 6th but we will begin interviews and will hire students on a rolling basis beginning in mid-December.
The Institute for Justice’s Dave Kennedy Fellowship summer program provides an unparalleled opportunity for select law students to substantively contribute to IJ’s cutting-edge civil-rights litigation. Fellows conduct legal research; help develop litigation strategies for active and potential cases; and help draft discovery requests, motions, and briefs filed in both state and federal court.
Fellows have been involved in projects as diverse as:
- Developing and helping to launch a case against abusive zoning enforcement, including traveling to participate in a press conference for the case launch.
- Researching and drafting a section of a federal appellate brief on a First Amendment challenge to a vague statute restricting political campaigning.
- Presenting a proposal memo to IJ’s litigation team on a potential new area of litigation.
- Drafting portions of an appellate reply brief in an ongoing property rights case.
- Traveling with IJ attorneys to meet with potential clients and assess facts for a possible new lawsuit.
- Researching appellate court treatment of FTCA actions to support Supreme Court merits briefing in a police brutality case.
- Reviewing body camera footage from traffic stops and other law enforcement encounters to develop evidence for ongoing litigation.
- Participating in moots for dispositive-motion hearings and oral arguments.
- Developing litigation strategies for potential challenges to licensing requirements in several states across the country.
IJ’s Dave Kennedy Fellowship positions are highly competitive. The fellowship is a paid opportunity, offering $8,000 for the 10-week program, and generally runs from the last week of May through early August. Fellowship opportunities are available at five of IJ’s offices:
- Arlington, VA (Headquarters)
- Miami, FL
- Austin, TX
- Phoenix, AZ
- Seattle, WA
To be considered, please complete the application and submit a resume, cover letter, and writing sample. Please indicate which office you'd like to apply to. If you're applying to multiple offices, please rank then in order of preference.
IJ is an equal opportunity employer.
Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At IJ we value a diverse workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.
To learn more about our culture and benefits, visit our Working at IJ page. No phone calls please.
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